Israel Pounds Gaza Despite Trump’s Peace Call, Ceasefire Hangs in the Balance
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Israeli planes and tanks intensified their attacks across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday, destroying several residential buildings. This escalation comes even as regional powers prepare to host crucial peace talks, and despite US President Donald Trump calling for a halt to the bombing.
The Ceasefire Condition: On Saturday, President Trump announced on Truth Social that Israel had agreed to an “initial withdrawal line” inside Gaza. He declared that the “Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective” once Hamas confirms the agreement.
Hamas’s Partial Acceptance: On Friday, Hamas offered a welcoming response by accepting key points of Trump’s 20-point peace plan—including ending the war, Israeli withdrawal, and a hostage-for-prisoner exchange. However, the group wants to negotiate other major issues, specifically refusing to confirm a willingness to disarm—a key Israeli demand.
Hurdles to Peace: As delegates from Hamas, Israel, the US, and Qatar prepare for talks in Egypt, a major sticking point remains: whether Hamas will agree to a map that shows the Israeli army retaining control of most of the Gaza Strip. Logistical issues, such as retrieving the bodies of dead hostages amidst the rubble, are also expected to pose challenges to the 72-hour timeline for release. Israel states 48 hostages remain, with 20 believed to be alive.
Despair in Gaza: Despite the diplomatic flurry, residents reported non-stop explosions. One displaced Gazan, Rami Mohammad-Ali, asked, “Where is the truce Trump told us about?” Local health officials reported new casualties and acute shortages of food and fuel.
Netanyahu’s Political Tightrope: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is caught between immense public pressure to end the war and demands from his far-right coalition partners. Hardliners like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have threatened to collapse the government if the Gaza campaign is halted.
The initiative has nonetheless garnered significant international support, with key Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Qatar, welcoming Hamas’s willingness to engage.
